I think I'm getting scammed.

[buddies1638]

I'm new to selling and just have 4 items listed. First I accepted an offer and customer wanted me to text her, which I did. She wanted me to inclose a gift card for $300.00 to send along with the item she accepted to buy. Now I would have to purchase that on my own credit card and she said that she would add extra $'s to my pay pal acct. After several more texts, I told her I couldn't include the gift card, and I never heard back from her. Again it happened to me today on another item!!!!!!!, wanting me to add a $200.00 gift card in with the purchase. What's going on?

[mtgraves7984 · Accepted solution]

I KNOW you're getting scammed. NEVER text. NEVER enclose gift cards. Good catch!

[buddies1638]

Should I report these people to ebay and how do I do that? Thanks.

[mtgraves7984]

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@buddies1638 wrote:

Should I report these people to ebay and how do I do that? Thanks.

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You can... but they mass-breed overnight. It's probably not worth the effort. Just continue to be mindful. New sellers really have it rough here... but hang in there!!! You did good!

[buddies1638]

thank you. It's tough out there!

[csbbct]

1.  Never give out your personal phone number (through an ebay message or by texting them) or your email address to a "potential" buyer.  There's no reason for it and only bad things will come from it.  

2.  If they get your email address it's to send you a very real looking email showing a Paypal payment that may even include wording that you will not see the transaction in Paypal until the item is shipped.  Reality - you will never see the payment in Paypal.  Do not click on any links in the email.  Always log in separately to your Paypal account to verify payment.

3.  You may also get a request to include a gift card because they are currently out of the country and need to buy a gift for their brother or daughter or dog.  Again, money you will never see.

4.  If you do get a legitimate sale you may get an email after the sale asking you to ship it to a different address with a myriad of excuses why it wasn't that way on the payment.  It may come from an eBay id that was not the original buyer hoping you won't notice.  Only ship to the address on the payment or you lose your seller protection.

[gracieallen01]

@buddies1638 

It is a fairly common scam.

Usually it is 'someone in the military' or it is 'for a birthday gift', or some such thing.  As already posted, never give out your phone, text or e-mail - there is absolutely NO reason in a regular transaction and ALWAYS be suspicious when a gift card or request for text is requested.

[buddies1638]

Well, in the 2 days I've been on ebay, I've made several mistakes. Thankfully I haven't lost any $ and learn alot ...fast! Thanks for your advice.

[koohaj_0]

Part of what attracts scammers is how a listing looks and feels.

Overall your listings are good, but having perused one I would change this:

Coach leather handbag with shoulder strap good condition.. Condition is Pre-owned. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail. A great little when you want to travel. A color that's no longer made, British tan. The bag width is7", 6 1/4" tall and the shoulder strap is 23" long. Other than a small stain on the bottom of the bag, it's in great condition.

To this:

• Name Item: Coach Leather Handbag with shoulder strap
• Condition: Pre-owned, good, clean, one stain bottom of bag.
• Color: British Tan.
• Bag Width: 7"
• Bag Height: 6.25"  
• Shoulder strap Length: 23"

*** There exists a box for used / pre-owned items labeled condition description, USE IT!!!

**** Also make sure to specifically include picture(s) of any and all defects.

Doing that will alleviate some of the spam from these scammers, professional looking listings help in that regard.

[albertabrightalberta]

To add to what others have said, I'll add that scammers look for new and inexperienced sellers.

If anything doesn't feel right to you, ask questions on the boards first.